Alright lets see if we can muddle through this.
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After both Ryan and Natasha spoke, Shadowclaw did so too. "Elder, may I say something? I apologize in advance if it will be a bit long, but I think you should understand our position somewhat better after you hear what I have to say." he asked as politely as he was able to. If he is given permission to speak, Shadowclaw does speak.
Yes shadow claw asked to speak but as he continued with along post I took poetic license to assume he just carried on. This is something that was really making the scene at least to me.
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"Last time we were here, some Jersey Shore rejects tried to attack us while we were transporting the recently deceased body of our packmate, Marcus. Marcus died when we were attacking the lair of one of the powerful leeches in the area. One of the leech's servants put a whole magazine of silver bullets in his head. When I saw his body, I barely recognized him." Shadowclaw start, with a hint of emotion in his voice.
"We've managed to destroy the leech and her servants. She won't defile Gaia's realm any longer. But Marcus died in order for that to happen. I myself barely survived the hail of silver bullets from the leeches' servants. It was only because of Marcus' healing talens that I still stand here before you." Shadowclaw takes out one of the small runed acorns that he took from Marcus. It was one of his Gaia's Breath Talens. One of them healed his wounds and likely ensured that he survived the ordeal.
"Luke is now also dead. You probably don't know Luke." Shadowclaw said with a sad grin on his face, then gestured to Lockjaw (if he was there). "The big guy here called him songbird. He had a guitar he liked to play, that's why, you see, the big guy's not very good with nicknames. Anyway, Luke was an actor, had dreams of making it big in Hollywood. But then Gaia's calling came to him, and he threw away all that, his whole life, to come here and fight in this war against the leeches in this city. Now, he no longer plays the guitar and his dreams of being an actor are history. Because he fell in battle so that more leeches won't arrive to this city to join the war. We succeeded in that, there won't be reinforcements for the leeches anytime soon, but Luke had to sacrifice himself. His parents probably don't know what happened to him yet. And they'll probably never know. To protect the Veil, you see." Shadowclaw went quiet for a few seconds and looked at Gnuris.
"Luke saved the life of a young kid today. A few hours before he met his demise." he added quietly, before he looked at Sean.
"And now, there's Sean. Sean was always the quiet, introspective type. The kind of guy to keep calm when emotions run wild. He's not really the type of person to give anyone 'attitude'." He looked at Natasha when he finished the last sentence, as these were her words.
"He almost died in a fight against a powerful leech today and has the battle scar to prove it." Shadowclaw said and pointed at the battle scar Sean received after fighting the vampire.
"Whatever happened in your sept with him, he certainly proved himself a valorous warrior of Gaia. So it seems odd to me that one prepared to give life in battle for Gaia is treated with such great scorn, as if he were guilty beyond all doubt. We've lost two packmates and now, you seem oddly intent on making sure we lose a third one. Losing three packmates in two days. That's a bit much, don't you think, elder? " He looked at Gnuris with a quetioning look.
"I mean, all of us in our pack are Cliaths. We were entirely unprepared for the carnage that this war meant. Yet, we've persevered. We've shed blood and bled. We've rid the world of many powerful vampires and their servants during out short time here. And our packmates lost their lives in the process. We've done so without asking for a reward, merely because it's needed to protect Gaia."
Shadowclaw hoped that maybe Gnuris will find that they have something in common. After all, Natasha said that Gnuris and their entire sept fought the leeches for a long time without asking for help or support, with great fervor. So maybe he will come to see their packs as kindred spirits, who suffered as much as they have. Maybe. It was more wishful thinking than anything he thought would actually happen.
Ok this was good I highlighted where you in the storyteller's humble opinion started to walk a very fine line You seemed to be coming into this conversation with accusations that Gnuris was intent on killing Sean. Yes, he was angry at him but there was never any killing involved and I am sure that Natasha stated that. At this point you could have just thrown in a roll to aid Ryan if you wanted. Perhaps I could have asked for one for this, but I didn't think it was needed.
As always, I am happy to consider rolls you all think are suitable Just make them and post them below your post. That way we don't have to wait on people and I can choose to use the roll or not.
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"And what we hear now is you, revered Elder, accusing us of something SO vile as is consorting with the Wyrm? After all we just went through for your sake, for Gaia's sake? Now, I understand that something happened with Sean that needs to be investigated." he said in a quieter tone and nodded to Sean.
"But the least you could do is not to be so hasty to not only brand our packmate a wyrmspawn, but the rest of us as well? Not to assume the worst of those who fought in battles to keep this city safe and to help your sept. Who watched their packmates die so that the leeches won't take over this city." Shadowclaw then looked at Gnuris, carefully making sure that he doesn't initiate some kind of challenge he would be sure to lose, but still making sure his feelings are clear. Now came the dangerous part of his speech.
Here Shadow~claw rebuffed Gnuris's initial suggestion that the pack may be spying for the spirals. This was meant to be aggravating and insulting to see how your pack would react, either with calm (Ryan) or defensive (Shadow~claw). There was no issue with Shadows~claw's reaction to this it is quite natural especially for a proud Garou. If you had stopped it here it would have been best.
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"Tell me, Elder, do the lives of Cliaths truly mean so little to you that their sacrifice is nothing to you?" Shadowclaw said, his voice cold as ice. "I'm just saying, if Sean here receives anything less than a fair trial, you might as well spit on their graves." he continued in the same tone, before a sad grin appeared on his face. "Might be difficult with Luke though. His body is buried under tons of concrete rubble. But as they say, where there's a will, there's a way." he smiled, but it was a sad smile.
"You seem to have the will, Elder, so I'm sure you'll find the way soon enough." he added with the same sad smile on his face and bowed his head slightly.
He hoped that Gnuris or anyone else wouldn't just rip him in half or anything like that. He heard what Natasha said about Gnuris, but Shadowclaw's just some Cliath Ragabash. Those always talked stupid shit, so what can one expect, those weren't taken very seriously. After all, who's the bigger fool, the fool, or the fool who takes the fool too seriously. And Shadowclaw himself didn't think that he was TOO out of line.
At worst, he expected Gnuris to yell at him a bit, use his commanding voice to make him roll over in a show of submission to make sure he undestood who was the boss here and then move on. Assuming that things were as they were to be expected here, but he was prepared to flee should it be needed.
Still, he meant what he said, every word, and he was certain that someone had to say. Ryan was too 'diplomatic' to do so and it wouldn't suit his position. So, if someone had to say it, then it had to be Shadowclaw, as the Ragabash of his pack.
This last bit is where you met your character requirements as a Ragabash and even admitted it yourself you overstepped the boundaries. So, all I have done is run a little with this, no requirement for rolls as you told me you expected repercussions.
All in all, this was a fantastic piece of roll playing and I loved it. It has been noted in my Honor glory and wisdom table along with contributing to the group character points. I am surprised a little at your reaction with the result. I didn't see a need for any rolls, as it seemed to flow.
Now moving on to the posts following this.
I don't want to exclude Shadow~claw I am happy to have him stay in the room this won't need to be retcon'd as this
is the moment for you to use those skills you spent improving. It is all your choice. Natasha has posted quickly, and this could be just her going to the other room, and when she turns to speak to you, but you haven't followed.
I really want to reiterate that so far you have made this scene.
I know my posting time makes things hard and I apologies for this, but I must admit that I am having trouble seeing what was wrong with the interaction. You played your part to a tee and I don't think that a ragabash would have waited for permission to continue and I don't think a Shadowlord would leave the room. Gnuris's dismissal wasn't a "you must leave" he didn't order you out it was a suggestion by Natasha that he agreed with not a direct order to you, not only that this isn't your sept and Ryan is your leader not Gnuris.
I really think this is starting to become larger than what it should be.
I really liked that interaction, and I am keeping it.
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This wasn't even the first time something like this happened. I've been rereading the past posts and remembered that time when Shadowclaw tried to intimidate those gang members. The GM just wrote that they just ignore Shadowclaw and start closing in until some NPC who just happened to be walking nearby called them off. I let it slide that time, but why did I raise Shadowclaw's Intimidate, Charisma and Manipulation if it's just going to be disregarded like that without even a roll? That's not counting the fact that one of my gift's lowers Intimidate difficulties. Not to mention all the other skills like Expression etc. I even spent the XP I had left to raise them.
Shadow~claw Sometimes I won't use your rolls due to storyline with a need to introduce NPC's or players, but this should never stop you from asking me about situations or making rolls.
This time I have
not ignored you and you have
not left the room. I have flowed along with your own words of your post about Gnuris being angry, and I have targeted Ryan with that instead of you. If you want to use a gift, then use it and we sort through it as always. I don't want any player to feel un-important or that I am ignoring them. I have a different view on this scene to you and I am interested to see where it goes. We will wait for your in-game post.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:43, Thu 16 Feb 2023.
